Raging Bull

Jake La Motta is a boxer whose psychological and sexual complexities erupt into violence both in and out of the ring. His brother Joey falls prey to Jake's mounting paranoia and jealousy, while fifteen-year-old Vickie, becomes Jake's wife and most prized trophy. The same anger that drives Jake in the ring, ultimately drives him to beat his wife and brother, and sends Jake down a self-destructive spiral of paranoia and rage.

From Library Staff

From the critics

Community Activity

Comment

Robert De Niro teams with director Martin Scorsese in this "extraordinarily compelling" (Leonard Maltin) film that introduced unflinching realism to stunned audiences in 1980. An "exceedingly violent as well as poetic" fight picture that maps "the landscape of the soul" (The New York Times),Raging Bull garnered eight Oscar nominations and won two, including Best Actor for De Niro. De Niro gives the performance of his career as Jake La Motta, a boxer whose psychological and sexual complexities erupt into violence both in and out of the ring. Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty are unforgettable as the brother who falls prey to Jake's mounting paranoia and jealousy, and the fifteen-year-old girl who becomes his most prized trophy. A "brilliantly photographed film of extraordinary power and rare distinction" (The Wall Street Journal), Raging Bull is filmmaking at its riveting best.

I love DeNiro but I didnt like or appreciate how his character was verbally abusive and violent towards his wives. It made his second wife look so weak when she didnt stand up for herself or say much. She just went with it all.

Women are equally valuable as men are in Gods eyes, they are helpers, friends not slaves or a puppet. Feminism is the other extreme but a woman has a right to be treated with love, respect, pretection and stand up for herself. Sadly this is not the case with a lot of cultures and it gets portrayed in movies, books, etc. Its wrong and its not true that because women are the weaker sex they should be mistreated, used and abused and just accept it. I think the mentality comes also from misunderstanding what the Bible says about women. You dont take everything in there literally because the language is old, 2000 years old. Its important to look up the meaning of the verses. God does not condone the negative way women are treated and portrayed.

“Martin Scorsese makes pictures about the kinds of people you wouldn't want to know.” I haven’t seen this for years, and it drew me back in. I’m sure Jake LaMotta was odd, but I hope he wasn’t as psycho as portrayed. Loved Vickie LaMotta (Cathy Moriarty) and the paradox of being surrounded by gifts while having to pay the brutal price of ruthless treatment. I hate boxing.

My review is not a popular opinion! Raging Bull is frequently rated as one of the most important or best movies of the last century. I think that is often the case because it so clearly gives you the protagonist and antagonist in the very same character. He really is the cause of his own trouble. But I have to say, I do not think the movie holds up. The movie comes from a time where swearing and yelling substituted for acting. The amount of cussing and abusive behavior was simply oppressive in this movie. In the end, I guess it does a really good job of showing how sad, pathetic and hopeless life is for someone hellbent on self-destruction who refuses to learn a lesson and behave any differently. But I have zero interest in watching that character, spending much time with that character, much less making them the focal point. Layer onto that the period belief that yelling and screaming made for "good acting" and you have a movie that is pretty much unwatchable to me as a modern movie watcher. If you like movies about self-destructive people who yell, cuss and behave abusively, then this is your film. If like me, you don't like that, then give Raging Bull a pass.

Intense classic is incredible and lives up to the hype! Martin Scorcese has created a harrowing, haunting, and thought provoking drama about the self destructive nature of a man who has the potential to be something great. 10/10, amazing cinematography, soundtrack, and acting(!!!).Additionally, the artistic sense of it was really nice to watch, a real refresher!

One of the great American films- directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert DeNiro as the boxer Jake LeMotta ( yes this is the film where DeNiro gained over 50 pounds to play the role of the dissipated LeMotta ). The film is quite brutal and unflinching in its depiction of the real life unsavory qualities of the " Raging Bull". Powerful stuff.

One of America's finest films!!! Raging Bull is a masterpiece of film making by director Martin Scorsese. The fight scenes with Robert De Niro took weeks to shoot just short film segments. There is a real beauty to the film. The Italian American neighborhood seems so real and vibrant. One can believe that someone could be having an argument with their wife and no one pays attention. Great movies take teamwork on the part of the crew, cast, and writers of the script. Every part of the movie is beautifully placed together. Get ready to see one of the best movies ever made in America!

Raging Bull is a Classic American Film that will be enjoyed for decades. Prize Fighting is nothing like it once was. People followed the fighters. Here we have the true story of Jake La Motta. He is an explosive character and he is explosive in the ring. I cheered for him all the way. "Raging Bull" brought me out of my seat. It saddened me, but also lifted me up. I am glad to have met Jake La Motta on the screen. You won't regret seeing this prize fighter!

Violence:The main character is an incredibly abusive person who hits a lot of people - outside of the boxing ring. Inside the boxing ring, there is a lot of boxing violence, including audiences getting splattered in blood as a boxer is beaten to a pulp.